FranklinD.King

Franklin D. King AIKEN, SC - Franklin Delano Roosevelt King, 82, passed away on August 13 surrounded by his family. Franklin was born and raised in Dunbar, W. Va. He graduated from Dunbar High School in 1951. He spent a year as a postman before entering college. He graduated from the University of West Virginia in 1957 with a degree in Chemical engineering. He and JoAn Virbelle Swope married upon their graduation. They made their home in Niagara Falls, N.Y. A year later the University of West Virginia began a Masters in Nuclear engineering program. Franklin was invited to join the class. Upon graduation, he took a job at DuPont in Aiken. He continued with DuPont and retired from Westinghouse. Franklin started his career in Reactor Technology where he improved the method for flow zoning. He then moved to SRL and supervised the group that developed new fuel assemblies and coordinated charge development. He was responsible for the Mark 21 uniform lattice charge development. This was the best reactor charge ever developed, setting records for both reactor power and efficiency.Franklin loved to fish and traveled around the world fishing the different bodies of water. He was a member of Knights of Columbus. While a member he played and won numerous horseshoe tournaments.Franklin and JoAn were the owners of Glassimage a stain glass studio which taught stain glass along with supplying stain glass windows to many private home. The also supplied a window for St. Mary Help of Christians School, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Aiken Community Playhouse and The horse "Splendor in Glass" that resided at the Center for the Arts.Franklin had a lifelong love of bowling and was on bowling leagues until his health declined. He was proceeded in death by his parents Walter Lee King and Ina Stone Wilcox, three brothers, and his wife, JoAn. He is survived by a daughter Mary Lyness King Gregory of Aiken, a son Charles Gregory King (Jamie) Whitwell, TN. Three grandchildren Lane Michelle Gregory Hanks (Vincent) Johnston, S.C. William Samuel Gregory, Columbia, S.C. Michael King (Destiny)Jasper, TN and four great-grandchildren Varick Whittaker, Scarlet Rose, Kinzie Lillian Hanks and Vincent King.A private memorial service will be held on October 29, 2016.Memorials made in Franklin's name may be directed to Trout Unlimited 1777 N. Kent Street Suite 100. Arlington VA 22209.

Published in The Aiken Standard and North Augusta Star on Oct. 30, 2016